Electric-cable support



(No Model.) 4 Sheets Sheet 1.

O. H. BOWEN.

ELEGTRIG CABLE SUPPORT.

No. 895,207. Patented Dec. 25, 1888.

(No Model) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. U. H. BOWEN.

ELECTRIC CABLE SUPPORT.

No. 395,207. Patented Dec. 25, 1888.

Nv PETERS. Plwkrrmhognpher. Wanhmgcn. n. C.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES and MH M 7IflIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIMIIIIIQa llllllllllllllll nlnnunnnuu Q iflifl 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. 0.. H. BOWEN.

ELECTRIC CABLE SUPPORT.

Patented Dec. 25, 1888.

N. PETERS. Pmo-mhn n hqr, wuhmgren. DJ;

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

0. BOWEN. 8

ELEOTRIG CABLE SUPPORT.

No. 895,207. Patented Dec. 25, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. BOXYEN, OF ASIHNGTOX, DISTRICT OF COlfL'MBlA.

ELECTRIC-CABLE SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,207, dated December 25,1888.

Application filed August 17, 1888. Serial No. 283,022. (No model.)

To all whom it 72mg concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES H. BowEN, a citizen of the United States, resit'ling in \Yashington city, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new, usefuL-and important Improvements in Electric-(able Supports, of

by the means illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents an end elevation of an improved insulated cable-support. Fi 2 represents a longitudinal vertical section thereof;

tached, showing abayonet-joint; Fig. l, a side elevation of the sleeve l3 and a locking-joint; Fig. 5, a transverse section of a street, showing this invention applied to a subterranean system of cables; and Fig. t1,a modification of the invention, whercin the cable is extended through tubes provided with lateral branches for carrying the cable-wires to variouspoints,

but supported the same as separate cables] Fig. 7 illustrates an end view of the hanger or support, recess, and the insulator, showing the position of the lugs when the insulator is in place embracing the wire or cable. Fig. 8 represents a longitudinal sectional view of the hanger and insulator inclosed with the embraced cable in side elevation. Fig. 9 represents adetached view of the insulator, show tcrior ol' the support A maybe correspondingly tapered, so as to form a seat for the said sleeve 13. which the following specification is a descripj tion sufficient in law.

The sleeve ii is constructed ot glass, asbestus, or other insulated material, and mayhave a flat hinged or interlocking joint, the latter 1 form of cmistruction being shown in Fig. rat

The outer surface oi the sleeve ll and inner surface of the support A are const ructcd with a l)ayonct-joint, e 1

The sleeve 13 projects beyond the support A in order to prevent. the cable from coming in contact with the edges of the support, and The sleeve l3 and the hanger or support with longitudinal internal recesses, 7.), through which the lugs are passed, and the end of the support is formed with inclined t'accts o, against which Fig. 3, a side elevation of the sleeve B dethe lugs or projections bear by 1 urning the in sulator. This binds the insulator and causes it securely to hold the wire or cab e.

The support A may be hinged, hung from, or otherwise secured to a suitable sleeper or bar either below the ground or above it. A series of these supports are secured along the route of the cable, which is secured in position within each support by passing it through the slot u, then placing the sleeve l around the cable, and then by uniting the support and its slcevc, as clcarly shown in Fig. 2, thus holding and insulatingthc cable. \Yhere a limited number of cables are employed it is prclcrrcd to arrangcthem sidcby side, as shown in Fig. 5, in which is shown an ulnlcrgrouinl systcm, thc cables being arranged in tunncls below the surt'acc ot a street. \Vhcre a larger number of cables are necessary, however, there is mnploycd a series of brackets, E, which are sccurcd to dependent standards F, attachcd to the root of the tunncl, and the supports A are secured to the dependent brackets. To insure the insulation of the rcspcctive lines and prevent induction, insulating-1mrtitions M are located between the lines.

Instead of supporting the brackets from dependent standards, they may be suspended directly from the sleeper with insulated. sections H between them, whereby the brackets themselves will be insulated.

Any number of tunnels may be arranged under the roadway, each of which may be devoted to a particular system of cables. For instance, one tunnel may be occupied by the cables supplying electric lights, while in other tunnels may be lines or cables for electric motors, telegraphs, and telephones.

In the modification of my invention shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings the supports A carry the cable-holders G, constructed of iron, timber, or terra-cotta, which are preferably tubular, and within which are arranged divided glass or asbestus sections Lthrough which the cables pass, thus securing a strong permanent line which is thoroughly insulated. At desired intervals the sections are provided with short lateral branches K, through which the cables may be carried out to any desired point.

In one modification (shown in Fig. 5) the lower series of tubular sections are suspended from the upper section and from each other by means of links L, of glass, hard rubber, or other insulating material, which may be divided and hinged at L and provided with locking devices m for quick adjustment.

The tunnels are constructed of brick or stone, or some such material, with supporting or division walls of any depth or width, according to the number of wires or cables to be inserted, and the structure has man-holes at intervals for examining the wires, for repairs, or for other purposes. The coverings of arches are to be non -metallic, except the strengthening devices, as stars, braces, bands, or clamps from one portion to the other of the subway.

\Vhile this invention is shown as applied to tunnels under the pavements of a street, it is evident that it may be applied through the sewers of a street or to elevated supports above ground with equal advantage. It evident, also, that the tunnels when constructed for my improved cable system may also be trapped and utilized as water-drains, as shown in Fig. 5.

Besides the adi 'antages of thorough insulation and perfect support of the cables, the great advantage of my system consists in the facility with which the lines or cables may be putup, taken down, or rearranged. This is owing to the novel construction of the slotted supports A and the divided sleeves B, which permit the cables to be securely fastened in place or quickly removed, leaving the supports ready to receive another cable, without cutting, breaking, or destroying any portion of the cable or its supporting devices. The

novel construction of the hangers also permits the cables to be readily carried to any convenient point without detaching the hangers and without interruption to business. Another advantage due to my improved cable system is that the cables can be handled without skilled labor, as there are no connections to be made requiring the services of a skilled mechanic; hence a material item of expense is saved in starting and maintaining the line.

\Vhile I have shown, but only for purposes of illustration, electric-light, dynamo, telegraph, and telephone systems side by side, it is assumed that in the construction of any one system, as the telephone, that the wires will be laid far enough from the wires of the telegraph or any other system as to prevent induction from stronger currents. Each system mustbe built so that its currents will not be unfavorably affected by the currents of neighboring systems.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combinatiomwith the slotted supports, of the cableholders provided with lateral extensions through which the cable or conductors may be carried off, substantially as specified.

2. A system of cable-supports composed of a main support or a hanger having a removable sleeve, and a series of similarly-constructed supports grouped or connected with the main support, substantially as specified.

3. A portable or detachable support for electric wires or cables having a conical interior and a longitudinal slot, in combination with an insulator having a conical exterior which incloses and holds the wires or cables, as described.

4. A- support constructed with a conical interior for the reception of a conical insulator, having a groove or recess above and an open slot below in order to permit the insertion of the insulator which has inclosed the wires or cable, as described.

5. A locking device for an insulator, consisting of the lugs on the sleeve constituting the insulator, in combination with the inclined or beveled ends of the support, as described.

6. A slotted insulated hanger or support conical in length, in combination with a divided insulated sleeve, also conical in length, fitted therein and locked externally, and thereby adapted to hold a wire or cable, as described.

7. The combination, with a supportinghanger having internal recesses, of a divided insulating-sleeve provided with lugs on its outside to engage with the hanger, as described.

8. A portable hanger with slot underneath and a groove or recesses on its upper interior surface for the simultaneous passage of the upper and lower lugs and of the conical divided sleeve clear through the conical hanger, whereby said sleeve may be locked in place by turning the lugs upon the beveled surfaces of the hanger, as described.

CHARLES H. BOWEN.

\Yitnesses:

JAMES H. hlANDEV ILLE, R. J. MEIGS, Jr. 

